On the heels of news a Senate Republican ad hired Philadelphia-based actors to portray "hicky, blue collar" West Virginians, Ohio GOP gubernatorial candidate John Kasich is facing increasing heat for a recent spot that uses a fake, disgruntled steelworker.
"Unfortunately, the ad misrepresents the views of steelworkers throughout Ohio, many of whom have lost their jobs due to the devastating trade deals that Kasich supported in Congress," said Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern. Considering that the ad features an actor who was paid to distort [Gov.Ted Strickland's] record and the views of Ohio's steelworkers, Congressman Kasich should immediately take it off the air."

The 30-second spot called "400,000" debuted last weekend and features what appears to be an Ohio steelworker who declares that Strickland, the incumbent Democratic governor, "destroyed Ohio jobs" and now "wants us to keep him in his job."

The only problem: the man in the commercial is no steelworker at all, but rather Chip Redden, an actor represent by Heyman Talent Agency in Cincinnati. Democrats have gleefully highlighted Redden's other acting gigs, which include independent films "Nobody Nothing Nobody" and "Roaming," commercials for SafeAuto and the University of Cincinnati Bearcats, and as an extra on the ABC show "Lost."

On Wednesday, representatives from United Steelworkers (USW), which has endorsed Strickland, criticized the ad in an event organized by the state Democratic Party.

"When Congressman Kasich couldn't get a real steelworker to do his dirty work, he did what any Congressman from Wall Street would do – he paid someone," said John Saunders of USW Local 1238, said during the event

But Kasich, a former congressman and executive at Lehman Brothers, defended the ad in an interview with the Toledo Blade Wednesday:

"The message is we've lost nearly 400,000 jobs in the state. The message isn't who this guy is," Mr. Kasich said. "That's whining."

soundoff(72 Responses)

Aynd

Actors ... That's what the Republicans are–actors faking it as public servants. Once they were a vital and respectable party of conservatives who wanted to better the US, who didn't see the Democrats as enemies, who cooperated instead of obstructed. Now all the world is a stage for them. Don't buy tickets to their next performance in November.

October 7, 2010 03:13 pm at 3:13 pm |

Clint, Wa.

Is anyone really surprised by this?

October 7, 2010 03:14 pm at 3:14 pm |

Eric

Again, when you can't debate the issues...
when you can't run on your wildly successful yet WILDLY unpopular legislative accomplishments...
when you know you're going to take an electoral beating like it's 1894 (yes, I said EIGHTEEN ninety-four)...
when you have nothing left to lose...

you go negative...
you attack...
you smear...
you distract...
you change the subject...
you wave Palin around like a shiny object hoping to distract the Hopenchange Bunch with a Two Minute Hate.

In short, you throw a wobbling, pathetic hail mary pass...
and then you lose in an historic, massive, massive landslide.

Fail-Ville, 2010... population, Democrats.

October 7, 2010 03:17 pm at 3:17 pm |

Leslie

Republicans LIE? What a surprise!!!!!!!

October 7, 2010 03:18 pm at 3:18 pm |

Randolph Carter, I'm no expert, but...

What, there are still steel workers in the U.S.? Come on, capitalists, you're slackin'. Those jobs were supposed to be in China 2 years ago. Step it up! Have a nice day!

October 7, 2010 03:18 pm at 3:18 pm |

Fed Up

Yeah, sure. The Dems don't have any fake ads either, do they? All of them deserve to get kicked out of both parties, and sent home. I am so sick of these idiots thinking they are better than anyone. Vote 'em all in. Vote 'em all out.

October 7, 2010 03:18 pm at 3:18 pm |

Lawrence

Only a fool would believe a political anyway. Lies,lies.lies .all I hear are lies!

October 7, 2010 03:19 pm at 3:19 pm |

kakaraka

And Ohio would vote for this wall street out of touch Kasich with such an unethical character and practice? Le monde a l'envers. Now everybody can be a senator with just lies, fake talk point and questionable character. So sad American people are fooled by these poeple the likes of Kasick. Wake up Ohio. If you don't know where you going, you at least know where you come from. Vote democrats and Strickland for continuous progress until this mess is cleaned up.

October 7, 2010 03:19 pm at 3:19 pm |

j

"...Kasich, a former congressman and executive at Lehman Brothers..."

Former executive at Lehman Brothers... the same Lehman Brothers that tanked due to deliberately deceptive accounting practices, defrauded countless investors, and contributed heavily to the economic collapse in 2008. And people in Ohio even consider trusting this guy why? Are people so blindly devout to party affiliation now that an executive of a recently failed Wall Street firm is believed at all when he masquerades as in touch with the working class? I suppose so, at least in Ohio.

October 7, 2010 03:19 pm at 3:19 pm |

GOP Hate America

so you couldn't find one of 400,000 people who lost their jobs to do this commercial. Shows how much you care about them.

October 7, 2010 03:19 pm at 3:19 pm |

Scott F

Welcome to right wing Republican dirty politics. This is only the tip of the iceberg. Be careful what you wish for.

October 7, 2010 03:21 pm at 3:21 pm |

Allen in Hartwell GA

And this is news? The GOP knows they can't win on their record, so they try to make Democrats look worse. Sorry, but some of us aren't buying it.

October 7, 2010 03:21 pm at 3:21 pm |

Claudia, Houston, Tx

Republicans have really gotten me angry this time. My deceased father, as well as myself and other family members, worked for the Steel companies in Ohio and these jobs didn't just start being outsourced during Stricklands time as governor, they've been outsourced for atleast 40 years. So stop lying and talk to the real steelworkers and their families like myself who know the truth and not some actor who hasn't sweated one day in the steel factories as my father, it's a disgrace.

October 7, 2010 03:22 pm at 3:22 pm |

Rachel

Shame on the gop, but when will cnn report that for Obama's mtv town hall they are screen also pictures and political views? fair is fair.

October 7, 2010 03:22 pm at 3:22 pm |

mike

The words 'fake' and 'republican' just seem made for each other, don't they?

October 7, 2010 03:23 pm at 3:23 pm |

Chredon

"The message is we've lost nearly 400,000 jobs in the state. The message isn't who this guy is," Mr. Kasich said. "That's whining."

No, the message is that you've lost 400,000 jobs in the state, you are at least partially responsible for that job loss, and you are trying to blame your opponent for it using an actor who is pretending to be an Ohio steelworker. If you could get an ACTUAL Ohio steelworker (or former steelworker) to make that commercial, maybe you could garner some support. But this is just pathetic (like using Philiadelphia actors in 'hick' clothes to portray average West Virginians.)

October 7, 2010 03:27 pm at 3:27 pm |

Annie, Atlanta

We are about to set a record on campaign financing, estimates between $3 and $5 Billion dollars. That's Billion with a B. At least the ad agencies have another nearly month's worth of work. But I wonder how much of that money came from foreign countries. No telling, literally.

October 7, 2010 03:28 pm at 3:28 pm |

Fighting Democrat!

The GOPTea party is a fake. You get what you vote for! The dumbing down of America.

October 7, 2010 03:28 pm at 3:28 pm |

D

More of the typical GOP misleading, lying and deceptive ways. Amusing how in only two years so many have forgotten why we voted for change to begin with because they're so quick to go back to what got us in this mess to begin with: GOP misinformation and lies. Come on folks, wake up.

October 7, 2010 03:29 pm at 3:29 pm |

Eric

Another lib media red herring... hey, democrats, why can't you just run on your record?

October 7, 2010 03:30 pm at 3:30 pm |

John

What the REPUBLICAN in these states have to trick and lie to have a shot too win,i guess that what the REPUBLICAN PARTY as came to. And that way I'm not a REPUBLICAN any more. I'm a Independent voter now and i won't be voting for any REPUBLICAN in NOV. Count on it. All so the REPUBLICAN PARTY is becoming very hateful and RACIST and to far out there for must people.

WHY have a FAKE Steelworker, when there are plenty of REAL ones? Or is it that no REAL Steelworker would be caught dead campaigning for the Republicans who voted AGAINST a bill last week, that will penalize U.S. Companies that SHIP U.S. JOBS .....overseas?

Let's be honest, the Republicans are on the side of the Corporate Culture that would rather make a gazillion dollars than pay a FAIR WAGE to hardworking American Workers!

When YOU wonder WHERE have American JOBS gone? ASK a Republican!

October 7, 2010 03:36 pm at 3:36 pm |

geecee

This is what Rethuglicants do all the time. Lie and distort the facts! They'll do anything to win at any cost.